Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of late Romanticism with Ernest Chausson's "Le temps des lilas," a captivating album set to release on February 28, 2025, via Pentatone. This exquisite collection of chamber music showcases Chausson's unique voice, blending intimacy and grandeur in a way that only the finest composers can achieve.
The album opens with Chausson's Concert in D Major for violin, piano, and string quartet, Op. 21, a four-movement work that demonstrates the composer's mastery of form and expression. The piece is followed by the evocative "Poème" for the same ensemble, Op. 25, a hauntingly beautiful exploration of love and longing.
The centerpiece of the album is Chausson's "Le temps des lilas," a song that lends its name to the album and serves as an ode to Romanticism, a love song, and a nostalgic reflection on the bittersweet beauty of lost happiness. The album features two arrangements of this piece: one for cello and piano, and another for voice and piano, both expertly arranged by Emmanuel Touchard.
Throughout the album, Chausson's self-critical and pessimistic tendencies are tempered by his undeniable talent for melody and harmony, resulting in a collection of songs that are as beautiful as they are introspective. With a duration of just over an hour, "Le temps des lilas" is an album that demands to be experienced from start to finish, a testament to Chausson's enduring legacy as one of the most important composers of his generation.
Vinylscout